Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-06

81 understand Sam Stokes the black
smith. is c~anvassing the parish to see L
they won't agree to call q younger man IL
nv place. At the parish meeting IN March
probably. there will be an article In the
warrant to that effect" =,
sam Stokes is q bad, wicked man y
famed out the minister's wife, angrily.
NAY, my DEAR" said John Mortimer,
sadly, 'tyou are looking at the matter IRON
your point of view. He may be right a
younger person may do better b l. !
am an old man."
sand is it Just ia turn you out to starve,
after a long life of faithful duty"
at seems hard, but perhaps ought mol
to complain. l should like to die In ths
harness, but God knows best"
.tAh !" sighed Ms. Mortimer, IF Henry
had not fallen into evil ways. linen
should have my little property, apd you
the 81, 800 you paid out on his account,
and we should be rich enough to retire. ,
Eyes, it would remove all anxiety, bn'
it is gone, and we can do no good by In
dulging in vain regrets. 80,
81 wish l knew if Henry were stlll
alive" said the mother in a low voice: III
was cruel never to write to u.s."
1--WE have never heard anything except
that he went to Australia"
Nothing for ten long years. n both
the old people sighed.
It was a day in January. The snow
lay deep on the ground, and in som OF the
fields the tops of the fences were barely
visible, rising about the whitened land
scape. Grave and thoughtful, the minis
ter and his wife sat by the fire in the sit
ting room. At a table neal by sat the
married daughter, mending the clothes OF
her children, who were fast asleep up stairs.
Father" she said, after q pause, will
YOU use your influence to obtain for me
one of the schools in this parish?"
MY child" said the minister, you arc
wholly occupied now with assisting your
mother, and the care of the children"
Il am not willing to burden you with
our entire support, father, said Kate.
1T is 10 burden, child"
'It would not be much, l know, if your
income was large enough for us all, but it
is not"
Mr.. Mortimer sighed. He knew she
was right.
1T is only right 1 should earn some
thing toward our common support. Do
you think l could obtain a sceool?"
f'Yes. Kate, if you have really made up
your mind. Mrs. Pratt wishes 10 retire at
the end of the present term, and this will
create a vacancy"
''Then will you see about it tomorrow,
father
yes, my child"
How the wind blowsrn said the minis
ter's wife, presently. st is a dreary
night. l pity those who are exposed
to it,"
Just then there was a loud knock at the
outer door.
"I'll 20, mother" said Kate, raising
from her work and taking the lamp from
the table.
Opening the door, she saw before her a
tall, black bearded man, whose garments
were white with falling snow.
MAY l come in?" he asked. Can you
give me shelter for the night? l have
walked far"
Kate hesitated; but the village was hall
d mile distant, and it would be cruel tc
send the stranger away.
Come in, sir" she said. You can SIT
by the fire and warm yourself, and if my
father consents, we will give you a nights
lodging"
Soon the wayfarer vas sitting by the fire,
evidently enjoying the new-found comfort
after his rough walk.
"Do you live hereabouts?" asked thu
minister, courteously.
"No, sir; / lave spent several years II
Australia. | have Just come from there
The minister and his wife looked a
each other with interest. The latter was
the first TO speak.
"My son Henry went ont there ten
years since-Henry Mortimer. / suppose
it is hardly likely that you have me-
him"
''Heury Mortimer? Yes, | knew a maj
of that name. He was not a young man
he must be near forty"
eyes" said the old lady, eagerly. DE-
you know if he is still living"
Il "He was when | left Australia"
us be well?"
Eyes, he is in good health" &.
anu hO" 10 hO PioCPSiihS
"He owns a sheep ranch in Victoria, ant
h as made money at the mines. Yes, he il
a prosperous man."
"He has forgotten rs in his prosperity
said the old minister, signing.
you are poor?" said the stranger, in
terrogatively.
81 am old, and / may lose, my parish a
any moment. My daughter and he
children are living with me. l have then
to provide for Also"
The stranger looked %thoughttully from
one to the other, and there was q mist il
his eyes.
81 can't hold ont aLy longer" he said
i~mpetuously. Father! mother! don
You know me?"
Henry" exclaimed the old lady; anC
with tears of Joy she threw herself upor
the neck of her son.
~ have brought you sorrow father, bu
now | bring you Joy. You need have M
tears for the future. AVE already mad,
arrangements with a New York banker Il
pay you, in quarterly installments, a thou
sand dollars a year as long az you live
That is not all. My mothers little prop
erty which l squapdered shall be paid owe
at once, principal and interest"
81 do not need it, Henry" said hi
mother.
Then give it to Kate; she will need i
for her children. The money you paid GU
for me, father, shall also be paid"
"There is no need Of it Henry, sine
you assure ME so liberal an income. Blu
can you afford to give mp this large sum.
"Ye, father, for / am a rich man.
must 90 back to Australia in a few weeks
but / shall be glad TO leave you all com
Portable"
There was joy in the parsonage tina
winter night and for long afterward. Tn
old minister no longer feared to lose hi
parish. When the next parish meeting
came he voluntarily offered to surrende
his charge to q younger man, or, if tn,
parish desired, he would retain a CONNIE
ton as senior pastor, yielding the salary u
q colleague.
The arrangement proved satisfactory t.
all parties, and the Rev. John Mortime
still lives, happily relieved from all pecu
n;ory anxiat;oa rsanactad aud halnvad n,